I would not doubt this, although I'm not sure that the Pats want to go into the season without a back-up that actually knows the system. I guess when you think about it, Cassel was around for 4 years, and still didn't know the playbook until he got under center for a few weeks. Right now, Denver still has Chris Simms, but I would not be suprized if McDaniels came calling after O'Connell or Gutz.

Wha do you think would be a fair value for O'Connell? , I highly doubt that Denver would send the Pats their second round pick (#48), I think a fair swap for O'Connell would be Denver's 3rd (#79) or a condictional pick.

I guess that BB could always trade O'Connell and sign Jeff Garcia, he would be a more than capable back-up to TFB.

So we'd need to unload one first and it's more likely to be O'C than Gutz? Wow

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I was just kidding - although it does make sense if McDaniels liked what he saw from O'Connell. I doubt it would happen, though, I think McDaniels would get ridiculed for going after Cassel then O'Connell.

I would not doubt this, although I'm not sure that the Pats want to go into the season without a back-up that actually knows the system. I guess when you think about it, Cassel was around for 4 years, and still didn't know the playbook until he got under center for a few weeks. Right now, Denver still has Chris Simms, but I would not be suprized if McDaniels came calling after O'Connell or Gutz.

Wha do you think would be a fair value for O'Connell? , I highly doubt that Denver would send the Pats their second round pick (#48), I think a fair swap for O'Connell would be Denver's 3rd (#79) or a condictional pick.

I guess that BB could always trade O'Connell and sign Jeff Garcia, he would be a more than capable back-up to TFB.

Wha do you think would be a fair value for O'Connell? , I highly doubt that Denver would send the Pats their second round pick (#48), I think a fair swap for O'Connell would be Denver's 3rd (#79) or a condictional pick.

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Josh Freeman is going to be a first round pick - again, I was just kidding but playing along I wouldn't trade O'Connell for less than the Denver #1 in 2010 with maybe us throwing in a pick from our bounty this year.

While I am happy with the #34 pick for Cassel, O'Connell doesn't come with a $15M bill so while he's unproven he has a lot of value with great physical tools plus a year of NFL development.

All joking aside, Gutierrez was cut before last season. The Pats' actions to this point look to me like a show of confidence in O'C as the backup, and a show of no-confidence in Gutierrez as the developmental prospect.

All joking aside, Gutierrez was cut before last season. The Pats' actions to this point look to me like a show of confidence in O'C as the backup, and a show of no-confidence in Gutierrez as the developmental prospect.

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Definitely does. Brady, O'Connell, low round rookie should be the QB for 2010.

All joking aside, Gutierrez was cut before last season. The Pats' actions to this point look to me like a show of confidence in O'C as the backup, and a show of no-confidence in Gutierrez as the developmental prospect.

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I'm not sure I'd call this a vote of no-confidence in Gute just yet, we know they want a camp arm, no reason not to get the most competitive prospect they can find.

I would not doubt this, although I'm not sure that the Pats want to go into the season without a back-up that actually knows the system. I guess when you think about it, Cassel was around for 4 years, and still didn't know the playbook until he got under center for a few weeks. Right now, Denver still has Chris Simms, but I would not be suprized if McDaniels came calling after O'Connell or Gutz.

Wha do you think would be a fair value for O'Connell? , I highly doubt that Denver would send the Pats their second round pick (#48), I think a fair swap for O'Connell would be Denver's 3rd (#79) or a condictional pick.

I guess that BB could always trade O'Connell and sign Jeff Garcia, he would be a more than capable back-up to TFB.

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There's a world of difference between not knowing the playbook and not being able to handle game speed. If the former had been Cassel's problem, he wouldn't have been a Patriot in 2008.

Also, there is no logical reason to trade O'Connell for anything less than a first-round pick. First off, it would cost the Pats cap room to trade him this season. Second, if Josh is interested in trading for him, that implies O'Connell's too good to trade away at all. (The converse, however, is not true.)

All joking aside, Gutierrez was cut before last season. The Pats' actions to this point look to me like a show of confidence in O'C as the backup, and a show of no-confidence in Gutierrez as the developmental prospect.

The Pats' actions to this point look to me like a show of confidence in O'C as the backup, and a show of no-confidence in Gutierrez as the developmental prospect.

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At that point had BB made it official yet that he was starting Matt? I can't remember but for some reason sending Gutz to the PS seemed like a vote of confidence for Cassel as much as maybe O'C; Gutz had more experience,he looked ok during preseason (remember,O'C played mostly or all scrubs) and keeping a rookie as back-up really showed BB had complete confidence in Matt and intended to keep him at center for the duration.

EDIT: There was a lot of Cassel controversy and negativity going around at that time too, that's why I'm wondering if Gutz went before or after BB officially declared Matt his man.